Latch switch



" S. F. BRIGGS ET AL LATCH swx'rca Filed Oct/.15 1 20 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q IGN.OFF LIGHTS LOCK, OFF

WITNESSES Oct. 16, 1928. 1,687,490

. s. F. BRIGGS ET AL m'rcn swm-cu.

Filed 061;. 15;v 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet, 2

W W L VENTORS WITNESSES. 5

@ 8. 7% .i a 6 v Q 4 Arne Oct-16, 192s. 4 1,687,490

S. F. BRIGGS ET AL m'rcn swmca Filed Qct. 15. 1920 45heets-Sheet 5 WITNESSES 'Oct. 16, 1928.

v v 5. F. BRGGS ET AL.

LATCH SWITCH Filed Oct. 15 ,,1920 4 sh eets sheet 4 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 16, 1928 V UNITED STATES 1,687,490 PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN r; BRIGGS AND EDWARD 1v. JACO'BI, or MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, AS-- srenons, BY mnsnn Assisi-marinara names & scrr'mrronconronnrron, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A conronnrron or DELAWARE.

' LATCH SWITCH.

Application filed. October-'15, 1920. Serial No. 417,078.

This invention relates to switches for con trolling electrical circuits and while it has to dowith that type of switches ltnownas lock switches, it is designated a latch switch because it has for its object to provide for locking by means of a movement of the switch itself to a predetermined locking or latching position, thus permitting normal movement of the switch from one position to another until it is moved to the locking position, whereupon it is locked and a key or other means is required for unlocking it to enable I it to be moved from that position.

Though the invention is not restricted to any particular use, it is well adapted for the controlling of lighting and ignition circuits of automobiles wherein it is desired that tampering with the switch should be prevented, both to avoid a change in the lighting condition, which may render the owner liable to a fine, and to prevent theft of the automobile. Particularly it is desired by means of such switch to enable the lighting switch to be moved to a desired position where it will be automatically loclred incident to the locking of the ignition switch as with one form of the invention,.or the ignition switch is looked a with another form thereof.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the construction of the switch mecha nism and the lock mechanism so as to mini mize the cost of manufacture thereofQ With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the latch switch as herein claimed and all equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts in different views:

Fig. 1 is, a front view of the switch panel provided with a latch switch forming one embodiment of this invention for controlling automobile lighting and ignition circuits; Fig. Zis a rear view thereof; i Fig. 3 is vertical sectional View thereof;

Fig. 4 is a rear view with the terminal head removed and the switch locked;

Fig. 5 is a' similar view with parts sec tioned;

Fig. 6 is a front view with the panel re moved and the switch levers sectioned and unlocked;

Fig. 7 is a face View of the terminal head;

Fig. 8 is a central sectional view of the" switch on line 8-8 of 2;

Fig. 9 is a sectional View on line 9-9 of F1 5, with the switch mechanism removed;

Fig. 10 is a rear view of the lighting switch spider and its associated parts;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the lock pawl and its associated parts;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view showing the Fig. 12;

Fig. 14; is a sectional View showing the ignition contact arm in the locking position of i the ignition switch lever and showing the lock barrel and the engagement of its tumblers with its sleeve for holding the lock pawl spring under tension;

7 Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the ignition contact arm;

Fig. 16 is a perspective View of the lighting thrust cup Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the ignition thrust cup;

Fig. 18 is a sectionalview of a modification. i i I In these drawings 20 indicates a front plate or panelon which the switch of this invention is mounted and by means ofiwliich it is adapted to be attached to the dash or instrument board of an automobile for controlling the lighting and ignition circuits. As seen in Fig. 1, the ignition switch lever 21 and the lighting switch lever 22 are concentrically mounted in the front plate, the latter having a number of positions indicated by marks onthe front plate for estab lishing the dilierentlighting circuits, and the former having likewise different positions marked on the front plate, one of which is a locking position. Beneath the switch levers a hey-controlled lock barrel 23 is mounted in the front plate for cooperating with the ig nition switch lever in effecting a locking of both switchlevers.

On the back of the front plate 20 is secured by means of rivets 24 a flanged cylindrical switch case25, forming ah'ousing surround-f in g the switch and lock parts, and an insulating terminal head 26 with notches receiving lugs 27 of the switch case forms a cover plate curely lock the bracket in place.

for the switch case. In order to secure the terminal head in place screws 28 pass there'- through and are threaded into an arc-shaped tapped bracket 29 mounted on legs which turn outwardly and are confined between the back of the front plate and the flange of the switch case in depressions 30 formed in the latter.

Lugs 31 forced up from the ends of the legs of bracket 29 enter openings in the flange of the switch case, as seen in Fig. 8, to se Because of the length of the legs the bracket is spaced from the front plate where it may be conveniently reachedby the screws 28 and where it will-be out of the way of moving parts. The ignition lever 21 forms a cup-shaped bearing 32 for the lighting switch lever 22, while it in turn has a'bearing in the front plate. The lighting switch lever 22 has a short stem 33 constituting an integral projection therefrom and passing through tne bottom of the cup-shaped bearing 32 of the ignition lever 21, and a screw 34 embedded within it during the casting operation forms a centralprojecting screw stud by means of which the lighting switch member is secured to the stem.

A cup-shaped thrust cup 35, shown in Fig.

16, has its outwardly turned flange bearing against the back of the front plate, except where lugs 36 stand up and these lugs enter 0 enin s in the front olate to kee o the thrust P c A 1 plate from turning. s the thrust cup is held in its engagement with the front plate by the 7 pressure of'the lighting switch as will later appear, it is stationary. The portion ofthe lighting switch stem 33 which passes through the center of the lighting thrust cup is provided with opposite fiat faces to form a driving connection for the lighting switch member which is mounted thereon. An-insulating plate 37 and a corresponding metal plate 38 have openings shaped to fit uponthe fiat sides of the lighting switch stem and against the shoulders formed at the end of the flat sides, the metal plate being in bearing contact with the flat surface of the lightconsists of a ring having lugs bent from the edge thereof and passing through notches in the edges of the spider and the insulating plate to-tie them together and compel the spider to be driven by the lighting switch stem. The openings in the spider and the spider driving plate are considerably larger than the screw stud 3 1 so as to avoid ground ing contact therewith. An insulating washer 41 and a metal washer and a centering cup42 are fitted on the screw stud 34 and a nut 43 I of the stud.

threaded on said screw stud and contained within thecentering cup clamps the parts to gether, In practice a dropof solder is placed over theend of the nut and the screw stud to keep, the nut froinbacking off. It willbe seen that the lighting switch lever is rotatably mounted and carries with it the lighting switch spider which is insulated therefrom and the contact arms of the spider bear with spring pressure against the terminal head and are threaded in nuts 4: contained in square pockets in the recess of said cup-shaped portion of the ignition lever 21. T he edge of the ignition thrust cup to bears against the innor face of the front plate to prevent the withdrawal'of the ignition lever and to take the thrust of the ignition spring, as will later appear. An angularly bent SprO eCts from the ignition thrust cup 45 and passes through a sector-shaped 'openingin the lightingthrust cup 35and has a'headed stud 19 riveted theretoj A washer and a coil sprir 51 are mounted on the stud, the spring servingto force the washer toward the head An ignition contact arm, shown in 15, is'rotatably mounted on the centering cup 42 and is driven by the stud 49 of the ignition thrust cup so as to respond to novements of the ignitionlever 21. This ignition contact arm consists of a plate of insulating material-52 with a metal plate 53 secured thereto by having tangs at its ends passed through the insulating plate 52 and bent over thereoin The tangs of the metal contact plate 53 are not as wide as the upturned ends of said plate from which they project and consequently said plate is spaced from the insulating plate 52 in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 8, and the insulating" plate 52 may fitupon the centering cup 42 without a grounding contact of the contact plate 53 therewith. The head ofthe stud 49 is elongated and anelongated opening in the insulating plate 52 is adapted to pass over the head of the stud but the opening in the insulating. plate extends lengthwise thereof, whereas the direction of elongation of the 1 sad ofthe stud is such that it'will be at right angles to said opening when the contact arm is assembled, as shown inl ig. l. Thus, in

assembling, the contact arm is positioned to receive the elongated head of the stud and forced thereon against the pressure of spring ess- 90 51 Enid-is then turned and-rocked on the stud to fit on the. centermgycup. Opposite (the elongated openingrofiinsulating plate 52, the

metal plate 53 is provided with anopcning 5a to avoid grounding :contactwith the stud 49 and theedges oi the inetalplate on either side 01' this opening are turned down to form strengthening flanges bearing onthe insulating; plate. At the axis of rotation and at'its outer-endthe contact plate is depressed to form rounding contacts engaging respectively a centralvte .ninal stud 55Vand an i nition stud As the pressure of spring 51 is applied to theignition contact arm between its points contact, both points of contactare held firmly in engagement. with the terminalheador its studs. The range of movement of the ignitionlever is determined by.

the engagement o'j arm 48 of the ignition thrustcup with thesides of the sector-shaped opening in the stationary lighting thrust cup but this movementv is ,su-ihcient to .carry'the ignition contact arm over the three positions markedon the front plate. 7 in the on posi* tion it is held by the contact projection fitting n terminal in a recess in theend of ign stud 56 andin the other positions it is held b 1 said jro'ection fittin in recesses 5'? I in the b terminal head.

The lock barrel 23.l1jas a reduced neck tion fitting within. a ,fiangedescutcheon ring 58 which passes through the opening in the front plate w th its fianqe bearin avainst the L a a back of the front plate, asbcs .--seeu in Fig. 9.

T he shoulder formed by the reduced portion of the lock barrel 23is spaced from the flange of escutcheon ring 58 and in this space is fitted a lock pawl 59 and a lock spring driver 60, as shown in Figill.

The lock pawl 59 consists o'l a sheet metal plate havin a notch fitting approximately twothirds(of the wayaround the reduced neck portion of the lock barrel 2. The ends of this notched portion torni shoulders, one of which is engaged by a hook 61 on the'end of the lock spring driver for withdrawing the loclt'pawl from its lockingposition, as

willfla'ter appear. One end of thelock pawl riveted thereto. The edge. of thisv bent pertion of the ar rto 'wlnch the spring is riveted is slightly to form a bead against wlnch the end oi the spr engages topre-- vent the spring; from swi'n 'ing On the rivet.

A reinforcing plate 65 of very thin sheet anetal is mounted on. the upper face ofthe lock .pa'wl as it is viewed in Fig. 9, and this platen. is of the shape shown 1n 1* 1g. 6 w1th1tangs66 bentu 3 from its sel es and around theied es 1:

of the lock pawl and embedded thereinr This reinforcing plate 65 has an open ngconcena t-ricwith'the notch ot theilock.pawlxandotia diameter to receive within *ittheaoutwardly.1

extending flange of the escutcheonfiring.v 58,.

as seen in 9.

The lock spring driver 60. is alsoa sheet,

metal stamping rot ageneralaarc-shapeand I httrng around the reduced neck port-ion of Li the lock barrel 23 and against theshoulder thereofl It, however, extends around the reduced portion of the lock barrel tor a greater distance than the lock pawl 59 and besides the or angularly bent, projection 67, one part; of

which is engaged by the end of spring G l and I I another part. is engaged by a pin 68 projecting from tue reduced neck portionof the lock barrel 28. This pin 68 travelsbetween the 7 two projections 61 and 67 of. the lock spring driver 60 and is the means for turning the loel: springdriver and the loclr pawl. A

projection 69 bent outifrom the: lock spring; driver 60 is adapted to engage the wall of the switch case beyond the pocket thereof in;

which the bend of the lock pawl is contained to torn'i a stop, as shown in Fig. 5. v

The lock barrel 23 is surrounded by a cylmforming ears through whichfscrews 71 pass tion 72 bent over from the edge oi? theswitch case. The portion/72,; besides having. the. opening to receive the lock sleeve'ZO, has a linger T3 bent from its edge and l ing parallel with thewall ot the switch case. lThe lock sleeve 70 has opposit-e'openings to receive the ends of tumbler slides 74: which are fitted in transverse openings through the lock barrel 23. hen the key 75 is inserted in the key slot of the lock barrel 23 its, serrated edges serve to withdraw the tumbler. slides, so that key. The key may not be removed until the lock barrel 18 retur ed to the position 111 which i the tumbler slides may project in the openn of the lock sleeve, for in any other position from movinpjto acconnnodate the passage of the key. Yi hen the key is'reinoved'and the tumbler slides project into the epenin'g'so'l the 1 cl: sleeve they are prevented from worklng; 'outthrougih Sillfl opening-shy the linger 73 and the wallet the switch case, as will be the tumblers are prevented by the lock sleeve seen in Fig. 1a. The lock pawl; 59 is capable of a. rocking movement around the lock barrel 23', and its hook-shaped pawl member62 is adapted o and lockboth or the'switch levers The lighting thrust cup 35has an A- opening in itslside walliand. aprojectioira76 the lock barrel may be turned-by means ofthe leading therefrom forms a guard against which the face of the pawl member 62 bears to guide said pawl member through the opening and into an opening 7 7 in the side of the ignition thrust cup and an opening 78 in the ignition lever and into an opening formed between or on either side of a pair otlocking lugs "Z9 on the lighting switch lever, as -seen in Fig. 13. It is only the flanged portion of the pawl member 62 which enters the openings in the switch levers, the face portion thereof being accommodated between the light- I ing thrust cup and the ignition thrust cup 45. When so. engaged by the lock .pawl the switch levers are incapable of movement. V

In operation both switch levers are tree to be moved totheir various positions as long as the lock pawl 62 is withdrawn from its locln ing position and is not under spring pressure, which condition is shown in Fig. 6. As it is placed in this condition by the turning of the key to a horizontal position, in which the key cannot be removed, the presenceof the key indicates the existence of the unlocked concition. If it is desired to lock the'switch, the ignition switch is moved to the lock position and the key is turned to its vertical position from which it can be removed. The turning pawl from the position shown in Fig. i to the position shown in Fig. 5, theturnmg oit the lock barrel causing the pin 68 to engage the lug 67 of the lock spring driver and torce it to turn so that its pressure against thespring 64 compels the lock pawl to turn with it. The pawl member 62 finds the openings of the switch levers in position to receive it so that the ignition switch is locked in its off position and the lighting switch is locked inany position in which it may be at that time. 011 unlocking the switch by inserting the key and turning it in the opposite direction, the pin" 68 is turned against the lug 61 or the 1003 spring driver and it in turn is moved against the shoulder of the lock pawl to force the locl: pawl out of its locking engagement with the switch levers, so that it is returned from the position of Fig. 5 to the position of Fig. 6 and both switches are again frce to be operated. It the ignition switch lever is not in the lock position when the key is turned to the vertical position and withdrawn, the lock pawl is incapable of completing its throw and the movementof the lock spring driver only serves to bend the spring 6% and so place it under tension. This is the position of the parts shown in Fig. 12 and as the tumbler i their en a ement with the on nin 's l 1 by i i b are ei'iected by arrangmg the contacts 01": both switches in the same cireleand utilizing. the I in the lock sleeve hold the lock barrel against turning the lock nawl 'willfremain under spring pressure until the ignition switch lever is moved to thelock position. The igso removed and thereupon the lock pawl snaps. into engagement with both switch levers, as shown in Fig. 13, again locking the ignition switch in the off position and the lightingswitch in any position in which it ma have been placed at that time.

It will be understood that with a switch constructed in accordancewith this invention the lock may be set to operate as a latch when the ignition switch is later moved to the lock position and this enables the owner who finds it inconvenient to personally attend to the lighting and the locking of the automobile to send a messenger tor that purpose without having to entrust him with the key. The messenger will first move the lighting switch lever as directed and will then swing the ignition switch lever to the lock "position, whereupondioth levers become automatically,

locked. I

Instead of the ligl'iting switch lever being capable of being locked in any of its positi.ons,it may be preferred to construct it so that will be capable of being locked only in the dim position. To do this it is only necessary to broaden the lugs 79 of the lighting switch lever shown in Fig. 18 so that the locking pawl is blocked thereby ineither the ol't' or the bright position of the lighting switch lever and can only serve as a lighting switch lock by entering the opening between them in the dim position. With this construction there is 'a double latch operation for the loclrpawl. t can first spring into locking engagement with the ignition switch lever when said lever is moved'to the lock position and later it may spring into engagement with the opening between the looking lugs 79 of the lighting switch lever when said lever is moved to the dim position. The switch may thus have the ignition locked by the owner when he leavestliecar and may later be changed by the messenger from either 05 or bright positionto dim position or the lighting switch lever, but as soon as the dim position is reached the'lock is effective and no further change. can be made; The double latching function of the lock pawl permits first the automatic locking of the ignition switch and later the automatic locking of the lighting switch. I w a The terminal studs, as usual, constitute binding posts to facilitate the I making oi wiring connections, as indicated by the names appearing near them onthe back of the terminal head, so that the difierent'connections are established for the different positions of both switch lev and certain economies be cut away so that-the lighting switch may be changed asdesired even 'whenthe switch a is locke We desire it to be understood that this invention is not limited to any-specific form or arrangement of parts except in so tar as such limitations are specified inthe claims.

What weclaim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electrical switch, a pair of switch members having operative positions and one.

of them having a locking position, and means tor locking bot-h switch members automati :dil'lerent operative positions and a locking position, and a key controlled locking mechanism locking both oi the switch members when the ignition switch member is moved to the locking position. v

3. In an electrical switch, a switch memher having OPGIItlVG positions and a locking position, a pawl capable of engaging the switch member in" its'locking position, and key operated lock means for giving bias to the pawl in a direction'to effect its locking engagement with the switch member when the switch member is moved to the locking position. i

a; In an electrical switch, a switch member having operative positions and a locking position, a pawl for engaging the switch member in the locking position, a spring for operating the pawl, and key controlled lock means for placing the spring under tension.

5. In an electrical switch, a switch memher having a locking position, a rotatably mounted key operated lock barrel, a pawl pivotally mounted on the lock barrel for engaging the switch member in its locking po sition, a spring on thepawl, a spring driver rotatably mounted on the lock barrel engaging the spring and the pawl, and a projection on the lock barrel for engaging the :spring driver for placing the spring under tension to move the pawl into engagement with the switch member when turned in one direction and for moving the pawl out'of engagement with the switch member when turned in the other direction.

6. In an electrical switch, a switch case having a front plate, a switch lever having a stem, a second switch lever fitting around the stem as a sleeve and fitting within the front plate, a thrust member secured to the sleeve and bearing on the front plate, a spring actuated contact member carried by the sleeve, a second thrust member secured to the front plate, a spring actuated contact member mounted on the stem and bearing on the sec ond thrust member, and a terminal head for the casing engaged. by the switch members.

7. In an electrical switch,-= a switch case having a trontplate, a switch lever having a stem, a second switch leverfittingiaround the stem as a sleeve and fitting within the front plate, a thrust member bearing on 'the front plate, aswitch member mountedonthe stem andbeaing onthethrust member and provided with spring actuated contactfin- -:-ers, a spring pressed contact.armrotatably iitting on the stem and having driving connection with the-sleeve, and a terminal head on the switch case having contacts engaged by the contact fingers and the contact arm.

8. In an electrical switch, a pivotally mounted switch niem'ber, contacts on the switch member at the pivotal axis anddistant therefrom,spring means lJ-QQJLl-Hg' on the switch member between the contacts, and

fixed contacts-engaged by the contacts of the switch member. I

9. In a switch, a pivotally mounted SWltCh member, contacts thereon at the pivotal axis and distant therefrom, a driving means having connection with the switch member'between the contacts, a spring'on the driving means bearing on the switch inember,'and stationary contacts engaged bythe contacts of the switch member.

10. In a switch, guide, a switch. member pivotally mounted on a centering.inember, contacts on the switch member near the pivotal axis and distanttherefrom, a .rotatably monnteddriving means for the switch member having connection with the switch member between the contacts, said driving means consisting of a pin having an elongated sad and fitting on an elongated slot ot the switch member and crossed therewith, a spring'on the pin bearing on the switch member, and stationary contacts engaged by the contacts of the switch member.

ll. In a switch, a casing having a front plate, a switch lever having a stem, a second switch leverfitting on the stem as a sleeve and fitting in the front plate, a thrust cup securedto the front plate with the stem passing therethrough, a second thrust cup secured to the sleeve and bearing on the front plate and provided with an arm extending through the first thrust cup, aswitch member mounted on the stem and bearing on the first mentioned thrust cup and provided with spring contact fingers, a centering member on the stem, a switch member pivotally mounted on the centering member and provided with contacts and having driving connection with engage the switch lever in one position thereof to prevent it from turning, a rotatably mounted lock barrel, a spring on the pawl, a spring driver mounted on thelock barrel and having means for engaging the spring when turned in one direction and for I engaging the pawl when turned in the other direction, a pin on the lock barrel for engag 'ing the spring driver, and key operated tumblers in the lock barrel for holding the lock barrel in the position in which'the spring is engaged by the spring driver for forcing the pawl into engagement wit-h the switch lever when the switch lever is in position therefor. V V i I 13. In a switch, a switch case, a switch lever mounted therein, a pivotally mounted awl for en 'a 'in the switch lever in one D b b i 14. In a switch, a pair of switch levers,

one mounted within the other and both provided with registering openings, and a key controlled spring "pressed swinging ."pawl adapted to engage said openings for locking both switch levers.

15. In an electrical switch, a switch member, a second switch member havingoperative positions in oneof which itmay be locked, and spring-latch locking means for said switch members effective upon the first switch member but not efiective upon the second switch member untilit is in said position." i- In 16. In an electrical switch, a pair of concentric switch members, and spring-latch locking means for theone switch member requiring apredetermined operative position of both switch members.

17. In anelectrical switch, a switch member, a-second switch member, spfing-latch lockingmeans for the first switch member for locking it independently, and locking [means forthe second. switch member dependent upon the locking of the first switch member. l i

18. In a switch, a pair of switch levers,

7 one mounted within the other and both provided with registering openings,:and a keycontrolled spring-pressed swinging pawl adapted toengage one of said openings'tor locking one switch lever and adapted to spring into the other of said openings for locking the other switch lever when the latter is moved into position tocause the openings to register.

In testimony whereof, we afii-X our signatures.

STEPHEN F. BRIGGS. EDWARD n AooBi. 

